Stacking container for shaped parts, in particular stamped sheet metal parts

ABSTRACT

A stacking container to receive shaped parts (2), in particular stamped sheet metal parts, consists of a frame stand (3) with upper and lower holding ledges (6, 7) between which the shaped parts (2) are being held in the upright position. The holding edges (6, 7) comprise profile notches (9, 8) for the edges of the shaped parts (2). Adjacent to every upper holding ledge (10) a height adjustable safety ledge (10) is mounted; it also is equipped with profile notches (12). In their lower position the safety ledges (10) are holding the edges of the shaped parts (2) received, when the stacking container is being transported.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention concerns a stacking container for shaped parts, inparticular stamped sheet metal parts, consisting of a frame stand withlongitudinal upper and lower holding ledges which between them receivethe shaped parts and comprise a row of spaced apart profiled notches tohold the upper or lower edges of the shaped part.

Thin walled shaped parts, in particular large stamped sheet metal partsfor automotive vehicles must be stacked in stacking containers betweenproduction stages and during transportation and intermediate storageprior to further processing. As the surface of such shaped parts isfrequently highly sensitive to damage, care must be taken that the partsare being held at a predetermined distance from each other, whereinhowever, the distances should be as small as possible in order to reducethe storage volume required.

Loading and unloading in the case of known stacking containers ismanual. In view of the considerable risk of injuries while handling themostly sharp edged sheet metal parts and because of the substantial timerequirements, which no longer correspond to the cycles of advancedstamping presses, automatic loading and unloading means were developed,whereby stacking containers are loaded and unloaded. It is possible withsuch installations to deposit the shaped parts at designated locationswithin a stacking container so that the parts are received and heldbetween upper and lower holding ledges comprising the appropriateprofile notches. In a stacking container of the abovementioned generictype according to the unpublished patent application P No. 34 06 293.9of the present applicant the profile notches of the upper holding ledgesare provided on a mobile profile gripping piece capable of beingdisplaced in the upward direction against the force of a spring. Theseprofile gripping pieces, arranged in a row of bores of the holding ledgeand resting against a compression spring, are raised upon theintroduction of the shaped parts and lowered as soon as the part hasassumed its proper position. Unloading takes place in the inversedirection.

As the stacking container is holding the shaped parts not only inintermediate storage but also for transportation, said parts arefrequently exposed in transport to considerable impacts. This createsthe risk that the parts are accelerated upwards to the extent that theyraise the profile gripping pieces against the force of the springs,whereby the shaped pieces may be released from their holders. While itis possible to block all of the mobile gripping pieces in transport, itwould involve a considerable expenditure.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a stackingcontainer of the abovementioned generic type making possible the secureimmobilization of the shaped parts being held in transportation.

This object is attained according to the invention by that at leastalong one of the upper holding ledges a height adjustable safety ledgeis arranged.

This safety ledge is lowered if the stacking container is to betransported together with the shaped parts contained therein. The safetyledge is raised for loading and unloading.

The safety ledge may be adjusted in height for example by that it ismounted on the holding ledge pivotingly around an upper longitudinalpivot axle.

It is further possible to guide the safety ledge so that it may bedisplaced in height.

The invention renders it possible in a particularly advantageous mannerto eliminate the spring supported profile gripping pieces and insteadequip the holding ledge in a structurally much simpler manner withsawtooth like profile notches to hold the upper edges of the shapedparts. The individual profile notches of the upper holding ledge must behigh enough so that the indivudal shaped parts may be inserted in theraised position and subsequently lowered into the profile notches of thelower holding ledge. The safety ledge, which is also equipped withsawtooth like profile notches, is placed into its lower position priorto transportation and is holding the individual shaped parts without theneed for flexible holding by spring supported profile gripping pieces orthe like. This results in a significantly simpler configuration of theholding ledges and for their conversion to hold different shaped parts,either the holding ledges themselves or profile ledges fastened to theholding ledges may be replaced rapidly and with little effort.

Preferably, every profile notch of the safety ledge is equipped with anoblique lateral surface and the lateral surface of the associatedopposite notches facing the said oblique surface is approximatelyvertical. It is obtained in this manner that the oblique lateral surfaceof the profile notches of the safety ledge is pressuring in the courseof the lowering of the safety ledge the edge of the shaped part receivedagainst the opposite vertical lateral surface of the profile notches ofthe holding ledge, thereby clamping the edge of the shaped part andpreventing its rattling in transport. Surface damage to the shaped partsat the gripping locations is thereby prevented, in particular if theprofile notches are entirely or partially lined with an elasticmaterial, for example rubber.

THE DRAWINGS

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the objects ofdependent claims.

The invention will become some apparent below from the an example ofembodiment with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view a stacking container for shapedparts,

FIG. 2 an enlarged vertical section on the line II--II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a section according to FIG. 2 of a modified from of embodiment,

FIG. 4 a view in the direction of the arrow IV in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 a view according to FIG. 4 with the safety ledge raised and

FIG. 6 in a partial section a modified form of embodiment of the holdingledge with spring loaded profile gripping pieces.

The stacking container 1 shown in FIG. 1 is intended for the preferablyupright holding of shaped parts, for example doors 2 for automotivevehicles. It has a frame stand 3 with corner posts 4 carrying oninwardly projecting supports 5 two upper holding ledges 6, arrangedspaced apart and parallel to each other. In addition, in the frame stand2, two parallel and spaced apart lower holding ledges 7 are mounted.

For adaptation to different shaped parts 2 the holding ledges 6 and 7may be mounted replaceably and/or adjustably and the supports 5 and/orthe corner posts 4 may also be replaceable or adjustable.

As seen in a particularly clear manner in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lowerholding edges 7 comprise a row of spaced apart profile notches 8,wherein the lower edge of a shaped part 2 is being held. In order tofacilitate conversion for different parts 2, the profile notches 8 maybe provided on a replaceable ledge part 7a of the holding ledge 7.

The upper holding ledges 6 are also equipped with profile notches 9 tohold the upper edge of a part 2. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1to 5, the profile notches 9 are arranged in a row and spaced apart andare provided similarly to the lower holding ledge 7, i.e., sawtoothlike, on a replaceable ledge 6a, which may be attached by screws (notshown). The profile notches 9 are high enough so that a shaped part 2may be raised in a slightly inclined position to the upper end of theprofile notches 9 and lowered into the associated lower profile notches8. This process is clearly seen in FIG. 5.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, adjacent to every upperholding ledge 6 a safety ledge 10 is arranged; it is mounted pivotinglyaround an upper longitudinal pivot axle 11 on the holding ledge 6. Thesafety ledge includes a row of spaced apart, downwardly opening profilenotches 12. That row can be screwed onto the ledge 10a. It is seen inFIG. 2, that the height of the profile notches 12 is such that eachindividual shaped part 2 is held in the vertical, clamped down positionof the safety ledge 10, in its lower position. Even in the case ofvertical impacts the shaped parts 2 cannot be raised to the extent thatthey leave the lower profile notches 8 or the upper profile notches 9.

That is, the safety ledge 10 includes a stop surface 12', which, whenthe safety ledge is in a lower position, is disposed higher than a loweredge 9' of the notches 9 and lower than a floor 9" of those notches 9 inoverlying relationship to the shaped part 2. Hence, the shaped part 2 isprevented from rising out of the notches 8 of the lower holding ledge.When the safety ledge is moved to an upper position, the stop surface12' is raised from its lower position sufficiently to permit the shapedpart 2 to be raised out of the notches 8 of the lower holding ledge.

In order to immobilize the pivoting safety ledges 10 both in the clampeddown and in the upturned position, different mechanical devices may beused. In the embodiment shown (FIG. 2) flat supports 13 projecting fromthe lateral surface of the upper holding ledge 6 are provided; theyprotrude through slots 14 of the safety ledge 10. A wedge 15 may beinserted into a slot 16 of the support 13 to hold and secure the safetyledge 10 either in the clamped down or the upturned psition. Bothpositions of the safety ledge 10 are shown in FIG. 2.

A modified embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. The safety ledge 10' isguided here on the lateral surface of the holding ledge 6 in a heightadjustable manner in a vertical plane. For this purpose, alongitudinally displaceable guide strip 17 is arranged and guided insidethe hollow holding ledge 6, parallel to the safety ledge 10'. A bolt 18fastened to the safety ledge 10' projects through a vertical slot 19into the holding ledge 6 and carries a guide roller 20 in it. The guidestrip 17 comprises a guide curve 21 in the form of a slot 21a, intowhich the guide roller 20 is protruding. Preferably, two guide rollers20 are provided near the two ends of the safety ledge 10'. Within therange of the guide rollers 20 the guide curve 21 comprises a bentsection 21a. In case of a longitudinal displacement of the guide ledge17 therefore the safety ledge 10' is either raised (FIG. 2) or lowered(FIGS. 3 and 4).

The longitudinal displacement of the guide strip 17 is effected forexample by means of a pivot lever 22 on the end of the holding ledge 6.A bolt 23 connected with the pivot lever 22 engages a vertical slot 24at the end of the guide strip 17; in case of a movement of the pivotlever 22 the guide strip 17 is moved from the position indicated in FIG.4 by solid lines (safety ledge 10' lowered) into the position indicatedby dash-and-dot lines (safety ledge 10' raised).

It may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 that each profile notch 12 of the safetyledge 10' has an oblique lateral surface 12a. The opposite lateralsurface 9a of the associated profile notches of the holding ledge 6 isapproximately vertical. In this manner, the upper edge of each shapedpart 2 is pressured during the lowering of the safety ledge 10' by theoblique lateral surface 12a against the vertical lateral surface 9a ofthe holding ledge 6 and thereby immobilized (FIG. 4). During thetransportation of the stacking container 1 filled with shaped parts 2,unintended movements of the shaped parts 2 are prevented so that surfacedamage to the shaped parts is avoided. In order to receive the edges ofthe shaped parts in a particularly gentle manner, the profile notches 8,9 and 12 may be lined entirely or in part with an elastic material orrubber inserts. For example, all of the ledges 6a, 7a and/or 10a mayalso be made of a suitable soft material.

FIG. 6 shows that the upper edges of the shaped parts 2 may be securedby a height adjustable safety ledge 10 (indicated by dash-and-dot lines)wherein the profile notches 9 receiving the upper edges of the parts 2are provided on profile gripping pieces 25 which are yieldably supportedin bores 26 of the holding ledge 6 by compression springs 27.

I claim:
 1. A stacking container for shaped parts such as stamped sheetmetal parts, comprising:a frame including vertically spaced upper andlower holding ledges, each ledge containing a row of spaced apartprofile notches for receiving upper and lower edges of shaped parts, anda safety ledge disposed adjacent to and along said upper ledge andincluding a stop surface, said safety ledge being pivotably mountedabout a horizontal axis extending parallel to said upper holding ledgefor vertical movement between a lower position in which said stopsurface is disposed higher than a lower edge of said notches of saidupper holding ledge and lower than a floor of said notches of said upperledge in overlying relation to a portion of a shaped part to preventsuch shaped part from rising out of said notches of said lower holdingledge, and an upper position wherein said stop surface is raised fromsaid lower position sufficiently to permit such shaped part to be raisedout of said notches of said lower holding ledge.
 2. A stacking containeraccording to claim 1, wherein said safety ledge is vertically movablewithin a vertical plane.
 3. A stacking container according to claim 2including a guide strip carried by said upper holding ledge andincluding a vertically curved guide slot, said safety ledge including aguide roller movably disposed in said guide slot to cause said safetyledge to move up and down in response to being horizontally displaced.4. A stacking container according to claim 1, wherein said safety ledgeincludes notches, said stop surface being defined by a floor of eachsaid last-named notched.
 5. A stacking container according to claim 4,wherein each said notch of said safety ledge includes a surfaceextending obliquely relative to vertical, and each said notch of saidupper holding ledge includes a surface extending vertically, said safetyledge arranged in its lower position to retain each shaped part betweena said oblique surface of said safety ledge and a said vertical surfaceof said holding ledge.
 6. A stacking container according to claim 5,wherein said notches of said safety ledge and said upper holding ledgeare lined with as elastic material.
 7. A stacking container for shapedparts such as stamped sheet metal parts, comprising:a frame includingvertically spaced upper and lower holding ledges, each ledge containinga row of spaced apart profile notches for receiving upper and loweredges of shaped parts, a safety ledge disposed adjacent to and alongsaid upper ledge and including a stop surface, said safety ledge beingmounted for vertical movement in a vertical plane between; a lowerposition in which said stop surface is disposed higher than a lower edgeof said notches of said upper holding ledge and lower than a floor ofsaid notches of said upper ledge in overlying relation to a portion of ashaped part to prevent such shaped part from rising out of said notchesof said lower holding ledge, and an upper position wherein said stopsurface is raised from said lower position sufficiently to permit suchshaped part to be raised out of said notches of said lower holdingledge, anda guide strip carried by said upper holding ledge andincluding a vertically curved guide slot, said safety ledge including aguide roller movably disposed in said guide slot to cause said safetyledge to move up and down in response to being horizontally displaced.8. A stacking container for shaped parts such as stamped sheet metalparts, comprising:a frame including vertically spaced upper and lowerholding ledges, each ledge containing a row of spaced apart profilenotches for receiving upper and lower edges of shaped parts, and asafety ledge disposed adjacent to and along said upper ledge andincluding a plurality of notches, each notch including a floor defininga stop surface, said safety ledge being mounted for vertical movementbetweena lower position in which said stop surface is disposed higherthan a lower edge of said notches of said upper holding ledge and lowerthan a floor of said notches of said upper ledge in overlying relationto a portion of a shaped part to prevent such shaped part from risingout of said notches of said lower holding ledge, and an upper positionwherein said stop surface is raised from said lower positionsufficiently to permit such shaped part to be raised out of said notchesof said lower holding ledge.